What Families Really Pay For College Out Of Pocket

For many families, the cost of college feels unknowable until the bills arrive. Sticker prices climb past $70,000 a year at some private colleges, while headlines spotlight rare “full-ride” scholarships. The reality for most households sits somewhere in between — and it looks far different from the prices advertised on college websites.

Based on an analysis of federal education data, scholarship data, and student loan statistics, most families are paying tens of thousands of dollars out of pocket over the course of a degree - which can come in the form of savings, cash flow, and student loans. Very few families pay nothing for college.